U.S. patent application number 15/954203 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-11 for light source-integrated light sensing system and electronic device including the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Byounglyong CHOI, Inoh HWANG, Jungwoo KIM, Eunkyung LEE, Heesun YOON.
Application Number | 20190109256 15/954203 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63079857 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190109256 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Eunkyung ; et
al. |
April 11, 2019 |
LIGHT SOURCE-INTEGRATED LIGHT SENSING SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE
INCLUDING THE SAME
Abstract
A light sensing system includes a plurality of light-emitting
devices arranged to have a first optical axis and a plurality of
light-receiving devices arranged to have a second optical axis, the
second optical axis being parallel with the first optical axis. The
plurality of light-emitting devices and the plurality of
light-receiving devices are formed to have a monolithically
integrated structure, and the first optical axis and the second
optical axis are substantially coaxial to each other, thus
improving the efficiency of light reception.
Inventors: |
LEE; Eunkyung; (Seoul,
KR) ; KIM; Jungwoo; (Hwaseong-si, KR) ; CHOI;
Byounglyong; (Seoul, KR) ; YOON; Heesun;
(Incheon, KR) ; HWANG; Inoh; (Seongnam-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
63079857 |
Appl. No.: |
15/954203 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S 7/4811 20130101;
H01L 31/105 20130101; G01S 7/4815 20130101; H01S 5/3013 20130101;
H01S 5/183 20130101; G01S 7/4812 20130101; H01L 31/02327 20130101;
H01S 5/3402 20130101; G01S 17/42 20130101; H01S 5/187 20130101;
H01S 5/3018 20130101; H01L 31/173 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01L 31/173 20060101
H01L031/173; H01L 31/0232 20060101 H01L031/0232; G01S 7/481
20060101 G01S007/481 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 11, 2017 |
KR |
10-2017-0131654 |
Claims
1. A light sensing system comprising: a substrate; a plurality of
light-emitting devices disposed on the substrate, the plurality of
light-emitting devices having a first optical axis; and a plurality
of light-receiving devices disposed on the substrate, the plurality
of light-receiving devices having a second optical axis that is
parallel to the first optical axis.
2. The light sensing system of claim 1, wherein the first optical
axis and the second optical axis are substantially coaxial to each
other.
3. The light sensing system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
light-emitting devices and the plurality of light-receiving devices
have a monolithically integrated structure.
4. The light sensing system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of
light receiving-emitting unit devices arranged repeatedly, each of
the plurality of light receiving-emitting unit devices comprising
at least one of the plurality of light-emitting device and at least
one of the plurality of light-receiving device.
5. The light sensing system of claim 4, wherein each of the
plurality of light receiving-emitting unit devices comprises a
plurality of light-receiving devices surrounding the at least one
light-emitting device.
6. The light sensing system of claim 4, wherein each of the
plurality of light receiving-emitting unit devices comprises: a
light-emitting material layer which is formed on the substrate and
comprises a light-emitting region comprising the at least one
light-emitting device and a non-emitting region, wherein the
non-light emitting region comprises a same material as a material
of the at least one light-emitting device; and the at least one
light-receiving device is formed on the non-emitting region.
7. The light sensing system of claim 4, wherein each of the
plurality of light receiving-emitting unit devices comprises: a
light-receiving material layer which is formed on the substrate and
comprises a light-receiving region comprising the at least one
light-receiving device and a non-receiving region, wherein the
non-receiving region comprises a same material as a material of the
at least one light-receiving device; and the at least one
light-device is formed on the non-receiving region.
8. The light sensing system of claim 4, further comprising a lens
structure positioned on the plurality of light receiving-emitting
unit devices, wherein the lens structure is configured to adjust an
angle of light emitted from the at least one light-receiving
device.
9. The light sensing system of claim 8, wherein the lens structure
is further configured to adjusts an angle of light incident on the
at least one light-receiving device.
10. The light sensing system of claim 8, wherein a shape of the
lens structure is configured to control the angles at which light
is emitted from each of the plurality of light receiving-emitting
unit devices, depending on a relative position of each of the
plurality of light receiving-emitting devices.
11. The light sensing system of claim 4, further comprising a
support structure comprising a surface on which the plurality of
light receiving-emitting unit devices are arranged, wherein a shape
of the surface is configured such that a direction of an optical
axis of each of the plurality of light receiving-emitting unit
devices differs with respect a position on the surface.
12. The light sensing system of claim 11, wherein the surface
comprises one of a curved surface and a surface comprising a
plurality of inclined surfaces.
13. The light sensing system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
light-emitting devices comprise: a first light-emitting device
configured to emit light in a first wavelength band; and a second
light-emitting device configured to emit light in a second
wavelength band, different from the first wavelength band.
14. A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) device comprising: a
light sensing system comprising: a plurality of light-emitting
devices configured to irradiate light toward an object, the
plurality of light-emitting devices having a first optical axis,
and a plurality of light-receiving devices configured to receive
reflected light of the light irradiated toward the object, the
plurality of light-receiving devices having a second optical axis
wherein the first optical axis and the second optical axis are
parallel; and a processor configured to control the light sensing
system and to analyze light received from the light sensing
system.
15. The LiDAR device of claim 14, wherein the first optical axis
and the second optical axis are substantially coaxial.
16. The LiDAR device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of
light-emitting devices and the plurality of light-receiving devices
have a monolithically integrated structure.
17. The LiDAR device of claim 14, wherein the light sensing system
comprises a plurality of light receiving-emitting unit devices
arranged repeatedly, each of the plurality of light
receiving-emitting devices comprises at least one of the plurality
of light-emitting devices and at least one of the plurality of
light-receiving devices.
18. The LiDAR device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further
configured to control the light sensing system such that the
plurality of light-emitting devices emit light at different
times.
19. The LiDAR device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further
configured to control the light sensing system such that all of the
plurality of light-emitting devices emit light at the same
time.
20. The LiDAR device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of
light-emitting devices comprise: a first light-emitting device
configured to emit light in a first wavelength band; and a second
light-emitting device configured to emit light in a second
wavelength band, different from the first wavelength band.
21. The LiDAR device of claim 20, wherein the processor is further
configured to control the light sensing system such that the first
light-emitting device and the second light-emitting device emit
light at different times.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2017-0131654, filed on Oct. 11, 2017, in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] Apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to
a light source-integrated light sensing system and an electronic
device including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system, used as a
sensor or a scanner for detecting an obstacle in various autonomous
driving device fields such as smart vehicles, robots, and so forth,
will typically include a light source for irradiating laser light
onto an object and a sensor for receiving light reflected from the
object. Various additional optical parts are disposed on the light
path between the light source and the object and the light path
between the object and the sensor, making the system bulky and
causing a loss of light when the light passes through these optical
parts.
SUMMARY
[0004] One or more exemplary embodiments may provide a light
source-integrated light sensing system capable of improving the
efficiency of light reception.
[0005] One or more exemplary embodiments may provide a light
detection and ranging (LiDAR) device capable of efficiently
analyzing an object by including a light sensing system.
[0006] Additional exemplary aspects and advantages will be set
forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will
be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of
the presented exemplary embodiments.
[0007] According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a light
sensing system includes a substrate, a plurality of light-emitting
devices disposed on the substrate and arranged to have a first
optical axis, and a plurality of light-receiving devices disposed
on the substrate and arranged to have a second optical axis that is
parallel with the first optical axis.
[0008] The first optical axis and the second optical axis may be
substantially coaxial to each other.
[0009] The plurality of light-emitting devices and the plurality of
light-receiving devices may have a monolithically integrated
structure.
[0010] The plurality of light-emitting devices and the plurality of
light-receiving devices may be arranged such that a plurality of
light receiving-emitting unit devices including one or more of the
plurality of light-emitting devices and one or more of the
plurality of light-receiving devices are arranged repeatedly.
[0011] Each of the plurality of light receiving-emitting unit
devices may have a form in which the a plurality of the
light-receiving devices surround the one or more light-emitting
devices.
[0012] Each of the plurality of light receiving-emitting unit
devices may include a light-emitting material layer, which is
formed on the substrate and includes a light-emitting region
including the one or more light-emitting devices and a non-emitting
region including the same material as a material of the one or more
light-emitting devices, and the one or more light-receiving devices
formed on the non-emitting region.
[0013] Each of the plurality of light receiving-emitting unit
devices may include a light-receiving material layer, which is
formed on the substrate and includes a light-receiving region
including the one or more light-receiving devices and a
non-receiving region including the same material as a material of
the one or more light-receiving devices, and the one or more
light-emitting devices formed on the non-receiving region.
[0014] The light sensing system may further include a lens
structure positioned on the light receiving-emitting unit device to
adjust an emitting angle of light emitted from the one or more
light-receiving devices.
[0015] The lens structure may adjust an incident angle of light
toward the one or more light-receiving devices.
[0016] The lens structure may have a shape having a different
emitting angle depending on a relative position of each of the
plurality of light receiving-emitting unit devices.
[0017] The light sensing system may further include a support
structure having a surface on which the plurality of light
receiving-emitting unit devices are arranged, in which a shape of
the surface is configured such that a direction of an optical axis
of each of the plurality of light receiving-emitting unit devices
differs with a position on the surface.
[0018] The surface may include a curved surface, or a plurality of
inclined surfaces having different angles.
[0019] The plurality of light-emitting devices may include a first
light-emitting device for emitting light in a first wavelength band
and a second light-emitting device for emitting light in a second
wavelength band, different from the first wavelength band.
[0020] According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, a
light sensing system includes a plurality of light-emitting devices
configured to irradiate light toward an object and a plurality of
light-receiving devices configured to receive reflected light of
the light irradiated toward the object, in which the plurality of
light-emitting devices are arranged to have a first optical axis
and the plurality of light-receiving devices are arranged to have a
second optical axis, the first optical axis and the second optical
axis being parallel to each other, and a processor configured to
control the light sensing system and to analyze light received from
the light sensing system.
[0021] The first optical axis of the plurality of light-emitting
devices and the second optical axis of the plurality of
light-receiving devices may be substantially coaxial.
[0022] The plurality of light-emitting devices and the plurality of
light-receiving devices may be formed to have a monolithically
integrated structure.
[0023] The plurality of light-emitting devices and the plurality of
light-receiving devices may be arranged such that a plurality of
light receiving-emitting unit devices including one or more of the
plurality of light-emitting devices and one or more of the
plurality of light-receiving devices are arranged repeatedly.
[0024] The processor may be further configured to control the light
sensing system such that the plurality of light-emitting devices
emit light at different times.
[0025] The processor may be further configured to control the light
sensing system such that the plurality of light-emitting devices
emit light at the same time.
[0026] The plurality of light-emitting devices may include a first
light-emitting device configured to emit light in a first
wavelength band, and a second light-emitting device configured to
emit light in a second wavelength band, the second wavelength band
being different from the first wavelength band.
[0027] The processor may be further configured to control the light
sensing system such that the first light-emitting device and the
second light-emitting device emit light at different times.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] These and/or other exemplary aspects and advantages will
become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of a light sensing system
according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of
the light sensing system of FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A' to show a
detailed configuration of a light receiving-emitting unit device
included in the light sensing system of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3b shows
modified example of FIG. 3a;
[0032] FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example
of the light receiving-emitting unit device of FIG. 3a and FIG. 4b
shows modified example of FIG. 4a;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a light
receiving-emitting unit device included in a light sensing system
according to another exemplary embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another light
receiving-emitting unit device included in a light sensing system
according to another exemplary embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a
light sensing system according to another exemplary embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment;
[0037] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a detailed
configuration of a light receiving-emitting unit device included in
the light sensing system of FIG. 8;
[0038] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example
of the light receiving-emitting unit device included in the light
sensing system of FIG. 8;
[0039] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment;
[0040] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment;
[0041] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment;
[0042] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment;
[0043] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment;
[0044] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment; and
[0045] FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration
of a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) device according to an
exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary
embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
In this regard, the present exemplary embodiments may have
different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the
descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the exemplary
embodiments are merely described below, by referring to the
figures, to explain aspects. Expressions such as "at least one of,"
when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of
elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.
[0047] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings,
like reference numerals refer to like elements, and each element
may be exaggerated in size for clarity and convenience of a
description. Meanwhile, the following exemplary embodiments are
merely illustrative, and various modifications may be possible from
the exemplary embodiments.
[0048] An expression describing a first object or element as
"above" or "on" a second object or element may include not only the
meaning of the first object or element being disposed immediately
on and contacting the second object or element, but also the
meaning of the first object or element being disposed on, but not
contactign the second object or element.
[0049] Terms such as first, second, and the like may be used to
describe various elements, but the elements should not be limited
to those terms. These terms may be used for the purpose of
distinguishing one element from another element.
[0050] The singular forms are intended to include the plural forms
as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. If it is
assumed that a certain part includes a certain component, the term
"including" means that a corresponding component may further
include other components unless a specific meaning opposed to the
corresponding component is written.
[0051] The term used in the exemplary embodiments such as "unit" or
"module" indicates a unit for processing at least one function or
operation, and may be implemented in hardware, software, or in a
combination of hardware and software.
[0052] FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of a light sensing system
according to an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing
a schematic configuration of the light sensing system of FIG. 1,
and FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A' of FIG. 2 to
show a detailed configuration of a light receiving-emitting unit
device included in the light sensing system of FIG. 2.
[0053] A light sensing system 1000 is a light source-integrated
light receiving system, and is proposed to improve the efficiency
of the irradiation of light onto an object OBJ and the reception of
light reflected from the object OBJ.
[0054] The light sensing system 1000 includes a plurality of
light-emitting devices 220 and a plurality of light-receiving
devices 320. The plurality of light-emitting devices 220 are
disposed in an arrangement having a first optical axis OA1 and the
plurality of light-receiving devices 320 are disposed in an
arrangemetn having a second optical axis OA2.
[0055] In FIG. 1, for convenience of illustration, the first
optical axis OA1 and the second optical axis OA2 are spaced apart
from each other, and may be substantially parallel and
substantially coaxial.
[0056] By arranging the plurality of light-emitting devices 220 and
the plurality of light-receiving devices 320 such that the first
optical axis OA1 and the second optical axis OA2 are substantially
coaxial, the efficiency of light reception is improved. For
purposes of this Application, the phrase "substantially coaxial" is
not limited to an arrangmetn in which the first optical axial OA1
is completely identical to the second optical axis OA2. The term
"substantially coaxial" may also refer to an arrangement, as shown
in FIG. 2, in which the first optical axis OA1 and the second
optical axis OA2 are disposed such that the efficiency of light
reception is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. The
predetermined value may be a value of light reception efficiency of
the light sensing system 1000, the value being regarded as improved
light reception efficiency compared to a system having a light
source unit and a light receiver that are separated from each other
or a system having different optical axes of the light source unit
and the light receiver . Likewise, `substantially parallel` is not
limited to a meaning in which the direction of the first optical
axis OA1 and the direction of the second optical axis OA2 are
completely parallel to each other, and may include a meaning in
which the directions are similar enough to each other to that the
efficiency of light reception is greater than or equal to the
predetermined value.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 2, the arrangement of the plurality of
light-emitting devices 220 and the plurality of light-receiving
devices 320 may have a form in which a plurality of light
receiving-emitting unit devices 500 are repeatedly arranged. The
light receiving-emitting unit devices 500 may each include one or
more light-emitting devices 220 and one or more light-receiving
devices 320. Although it is illustrated that one light-emitting
device 220 and one light-receiving device 320 form a single light
receiving-emitting unit device 500, this illustration is merely an
example and the present disclosure is not limited to this
illustration.
[0058] In this arrangement, the first optical axis OA1, which is a
central axis of the arrangement of the plurality of light-emitting
devices 220, and the second optical axis OA2, which is a central
axis of the arrangement of the plurality of light-receiving devices
320, may be spaced apart from each other by a distance, having a
central axis C of the arrangement of the plurality of light
receiving-emitting unit devices 500 therebetween. Considering such
an arrangement, the sentence "the first optical axis OA1 and the
second optical axis OA2 are substantially coaxial to each other"
may mean that the spacing distance between the first optical axis
OA1 and the second optical axis OA2 is less than a width of one
light receiving-emitting unit device 500. However, without being
limited to this meaning, even when the spacing distance between the
first optical axis OA1 and the second optical axis OA2 is greater
than the width of one light receiving-emitting unit device 500, the
first optical axis OA1 and the second optical axis OA2 may be
"substantially coaxial" to each other, if the efficiency of light
reception is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.
Thus, when the spacing distance between the first optical axis OA1
and the second optical axis OA2 is less than a sum of widths of a
plurality of light receiving-emitting unit devices 500 determined
based on the efficiency of light reception, the first optical axis
OA1 and the second optical axis OA2 may be "substantially coaxial"
to each other.
[0059] To implement the light sensing system 1000 having such
arrangement, the plurality of light-emitting devices 220 and the
plurality of light-receiving devices 320 may be formed
monolithically. The plurality of light-emitting devices 220 and the
plurality of light-receiving devices 320 may be formed on a single
substrate 100 in such a way to be monolithically integrated. This
illustrative structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 3a
and 3b.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 3a, the light sensing system 1000 may
include the substrate 100, a light-emitting material layer 200
formed on the substrate 100, and the light-receiving device 320
formed on regions of the light-emitting material layer 200. The
light-emitting material layer 200 includes light-emitting regions
EA and non-emitting regions NEA, and the light-emitting regions EA
may also be referred to as light-emitting devices 220 shown in FIG.
2.
[0061] The light sensing system 1000 includes a light
receiving-emitting structure formed monolithically. That is, each
of the light-emitting devices 220 and the light-receiving devices
320 are formed monolithically. Herein, "monolithically" means that
the light-emitting device 220 and the light-receiving device 320
are not attached by means of coupling by transfer, adhesion, etc.,
to the substrate. For example, the light-emitting devices 220 and
the light-receiving devices 320 may be formed directly on the
substrate 100 by a series of sequential processes, e.g., a
semiconductor process including deposition, photo-lithography,
etching, and so forth, to form monolithically integrated structures
on the substrate 100.
[0062] The light-emitting material layer 200 may include any of
plurality of semiconductor materials, e.g., a III-V group
semiconductor compound, a II-VI group semiconductor compound, and a
IV-group semiconductor material. The light-emitting material layer
200 may have a laser structure including a gain layer, a clad
layer, and a cavity, and may have, for example, a vertical cavity
surface emitting laser (VCSEL) structure. The light-emitting
material layer 200 may be formed on the substrate 100 by a
semiconductor process, and the substrate 100 may be a semiconductor
substrate that is suitable for formation of the semiconductor
materials. For example, the substrate 100 may be a gallium arsenide
(GaAs) substrate, a sapphire substrate, an Indium phosphide (InP)
substrate, a silicon (Si) substrate, an insulator substrate, or the
like. The light-emitting layer 200 may include aluminum gallium
nitride (AlGaN), gallium indium nitride (GaInN), zinc sulfoselenide
(ZnSSe), zinc cadmium selenide (ZnCDSe), aluminum gallium indium
phosphide (AlGaInP)/GaAs, Ga0.5In0.5P/GaAs,
gallium-aluminum-arsenide (GaAlAs)/GaAs, GaAs/GaAs, indium gallium
arsenide (InGaAs)/GaAs, indium gallium arsenide phosphide
(InGaAsP)/indium phosphide (InP), indium gallium arsenide
antimonide (InGaAsSb), plumbum cadmium sulphide (PbCdS), quantum
cascade, plumbum sulfoselenide (PbSSe), plumbum stannum telluride
(PbSnTe), plumbum stannum selenide (PbSnSe), and the like. For
example, AlGaN may be used to generate light having a wavelength
band of 350 nm-400 nm. GaInN to generate light having a wavelength
band of 375 nm-440 nm, ZnSSe to generate light having a wavelength
band of 447 nm-480 nm, ZnCDSe to generate light having a wavelength
band of 490 nm-525 nm, AlGaInP/GaAs to generate light having a
wavelength band of 620 nm-6800 nm, Ga0.5In0.5P/GaAs to generate
light having a wavelength band of 670 nm-680 nm, GaAlAs/GaAs to
generate light having a wavelength band of 750 nm-900 nm, GaAs/GaAs
to generate light having a wavelength of 904 nm, InGaAs/GaAs to
generate light having a wavelength band of 915 nm-1050 nm,
InGaAsP/InP to generate light having a wavelength band of 1100
nm-1650 nm, InGaAsSb to generate light having a wavelength band of
2 .mu.m-5 .mu.m, PbCdS to generate light having a wavelength band
of 2.7 .mu.m-4.2 .mu.m, a Quantum cascade to generate light having
a wavelength band of 3 .mu.m-50 .mu.m, PbSSe to generate light
having a wavelength band of 4.2 .mu.m-8 .mu.m, PbSnTe to generate
light having a wavelength band of 6.5 .mu.m-30 .mu.m, and PbSnSe to
generate light having a wavelength band of 8 .mu.m-30 .mu.m may be
used. The light-emitting material layer 200 may include a plurality
of layers in which such materials are formed as a positive (P)
type, an intrinsic (I) type, and a negative (N) type. The detailed
composition of the semiconductor materials may be determined
considering a desired wavelength band of the light L1 to be
generated and emitted from the light-emitting region EA, i.e., the
light-emitting device 220. The light-emitting material layer 200 is
illustrated as including three layers, but is not limited to this
illustration, and may include three or more layers. The
light-emitting material layer 200 may include a mirror layer for
forming a resonant structure. For example, a distributed Bragg
reflector (DBR) including pairs, each having two materials having
different refractive indices, may be provided to form a resonant
cavity. The light-emitting material layer 200 may include an oxide
aperture for controlling a mode or a beam size of oscillating
light. The light-emitting material layer 200 may also include an
electrode structure for electric current injection. To reduce a
contact resistance with respect to an electrode, the light-emitting
material layer 200 may further include a contact layer doped with
P-type and N-type dopants at a high concentration.
[0063] The light-emitting material layer 200 includes the
light-emitting region EA and the non-emitting region NEA. The
non-emitting region NEA and the light-emitting region EA may
include identical semiconductor materials. The light-emitting
region EA is capable of emitting light to the outside. However, the
entirety of the light-emitting region EA does not necessarily emit
light. Rather, and at least a partial region of the light-emitting
region EA emits light. The non-emitting region NEA is a region on
which the light-receiving device 320 is formed and light is not
emitted therefrom. The light-emitting region EAs and the
non-emitting region NEAs may be different from each other in terms
of the existence or absence of an electric current injection
structure for light emission. For example, each light-emitting
region EA may include an electrode (not shown) for electric current
injection and the non-emitting regions NEA may not include
electrodes. However, without being limited to this example, both
the light-emitting regions EA and the non-emitting regions NEA may
include similarly-structured electrodes, while the non-emitting
regions NEA may be configured such that electric current is not be
injected to electrodes of the non-emitting region NEAs--i.e.
electrodes of the non-emitting regions NEA may not be connected to
an external circuit.
[0064] The light-receiving device 320 formed on the non-emitting
region NEA may be integrally formed directly on the light-emitting
material layer 200. For example, a light-receiving material layer
made of a semiconductor material may be formed on the entire
surface of the light-emitting material layer 200 and may be
patterned into a predetermined shape by a photo-lithography
process, thereby forming the light-receiving device 320. The
light-receiving device 320 may include, for example, a III-V group
semiconductor compound, a II-VI group semiconductor compound, or a
IV group semiconductor compound, and may include a photodiode. The
light-receiving device 320 may include a plurality of layers in
which the semiconductor materials are formed as a P type, an I
type, and an N type. Although the light-receiving device 320 is
illustrated as including three layers, this illustration is
exemplary and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The
light-receiving device 320 may include not only the semiconductor
materials, but also an electrode structure for detecting a light
signal as an electric signal.
[0065] As stated above, the non-emitting region NEA and the
light-emitting region EA are repeated alternately in the
light-emitting material layer 200, and a unit structure including
the light-emitting region EA and the non-emitting region NEA having
the light-receiving device 320 thereon forms the integrated light
receiving-emitting unit device 500.
[0066] FIG. 3b shows modified example of FIG. 3a.
[0067] FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a
light receiving-emitting unit device included in a light sensing
system according to another exemplary embodiment.
[0068] A light sensing system 1000' may have the same plan view as
the light sensing system 1000 of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4a also
corresponds to the cross-sectional view, taken along the line A-A'
of FIG. 2.
[0069] The light sensing system 1000' may include the substrate
100, a light-receiving material layer 300 formed on the substrate
100, and a light-emitting device 221 formed on regions of the
light-receiving material layer 300. The light-receiving material
layer 300 includes light-receiving regions RA and non-receiving
regions NRA, and the light-receiving regions RA may each be
referred to as a light-receiving device 321.
[0070] The light-emitting devices 221 and the light-receiving
devices 321 are formed directly on the substrate 100 by a series of
sequential processes and each forms a monolithically integrated
structure on the substrate 100, and a light receiving-emitting unit
device 501 included in the light sensing system 1000' according to
the current exemplary embodiment is different from the light
receiving-emitting unit device 500 of FIGS. 3a and 3b in that the
light-emitting device 221 is disposed on the light-receiving
material layer 300.
[0071] The light-receiving material layer 300 may be formed on the
substrate 100 by a semiconductor process. The light-receiving
material layer 300 may include, for example, a III-V group
semiconductor compound, a II-VI group semiconductor compound, or a
IV group semiconductor compound, and may be integrally formed
directly on the substrate 100. The light-receiving material layer
300 may be configured to implement one or more photodiodes. The
substrate 100 may be a semiconductor substrate that is suitable for
formation of the semiconductor material. For example, the substrate
100 may be a GaAs substrate, a sapphire substrate, an InP
substrate, a Si substrate, an insulator substrate, or the like.
Although the light-receiving material layer 300 is illustrated as
including three layers, this illustration is exemplary and the
present disclosure is not limited thereto. The light-receiving
material layer 300 may include not only the semiconductor
materials, but also an electrode structure for detecting a light
signal as an electric signal.
[0072] The light-receiving material layer 300 may include
light-receiving regions RA and non-receiving regions NRA. The
non-receiving regions NRA and the light-receiving regions RA may
include identical semiconductor materials. In the light-receiving
material layer 300, the light-receiving regions RA are capable of
converting light L2 incident from the outside into electric signals
and outputting the electric signals, and the non-receiving regions
NRA are regions on which the light-emitting devices 221 are formed
and which do not output electric signals in response to the light
L2 incident from the outside. The light-receiving regions RA and
the non-receiving regions NRA may be different from each other in
terms of the existence or absence of electrode structures for
outputting electric signals. For example, the light-receiving
regions RA may include electrodes (not shown) for outputting
electric signals and the non-receiving regions NRA may not include
electrodes. However, without being limited to this example, both
the light-receiving regions RA and the non-receiving regions NRA
may include electrode structures in the same manner, but electrodes
of the non-receiving regions NRA may not be connected with an
external circuit in terms of connection with the external
circuit.
[0073] The light-emitting devices 221 formed on the non-receiving
regions NRA may be monolithically formed directly on the
light-receiving material layer 300. The light-emitting devices 221
may be formed on the light-receiving material layer 300 by a
semiconductor process. For example, a light-emitting material layer
made of a semiconductor material may be formed on the entire
surface of the light-receiving material layer 300 and may be
patterned into a predetermined shape by a photo-lithography
process, thereby forming the light-emitting devices 221.
[0074] The light-emitting devices 221 may include any of a
plurality of semiconductor materials, e.g., a III-V group
semiconductor compound, a II-VI group semiconductor compound, and a
IV-group semiconductor material. The light-emitting device 221 may
include a plurality of layers in which such materials are of a P
type, an N type, and an I type. The light-emitting devices 221 are
illustrated as including three layers, but are not limited to this
illustration, and may include three or more layers. The
light-emitting devices 221 may each include a mirror layer for
forming a resonant structure, an electrode structure for electric
current injection, and a contact layer doped with P-type and N-type
dopants at a high concentration to reduce a contact resistance with
respect to an electrode. The light-emitting devices 221 may each
have a laser structure and may have, for example, a VCSEL
structure.
[0075] As stated above, the non-receiving regions NRA and the
light-receiving regions RA are repeated alternately in the
light-receiving material layer 300, and a unit structure including
the light-receiving region RA, the non-receiving region NRA, and
light-emitting device 221 on the non-receiving region NRA forms the
integrated light receiving-emitting unit device 501.
[0076] FIG. 4b shows modified example of FIG. 4a.
[0077] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a light
receiving-emitting unit device included in a light sensing system
according to another exemplary embodiment.
[0078] A light receiving-emitting unit device 502 may include a
light-emitting device 222 and a plurality of light-receiving
devices 322 surrounding the light-emitting device 222. The
light-emitting device 222 may have a circular cross-section, and
the plurality of light-receiving devices 322 may be disposed to
surround the light-emitting device 222. As is shown, the
light-receiving devices 322 may have a cross-section which
surrounds the light-emitting device 222 and has an approximately
rectangular shape that is equally divided into eight parts.
However, this illustration is exemplary, and the cross-section of
the light-receiving devices 322 may have a shape that a circular or
oval shaped and is equally divided into a plurality of parts.
[0079] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another example of a light
receiving-emitting unit device included in a light sensing system
according to another exemplary embodiment.
[0080] A light receiving-emitting unit device 503 may include a
plurality of light-emitting devices 223 and a plurality of
light-receiving devices 323 surrounding the plurality of
light-emitting device 223. The plurality of light-emitting devices
223 have circular cross-sections and are disposed in a central
portion, and the plurality of light-receiving devices 323 have a
shape which surrounds the plurality of light-emitting devices 223
and is an approximately rectangular shape that is equally divided
into two parts. However, this illustration is exemplary, and the
cross-section of the light-receiving devices 323 may have a
circular or oval shape that is equally divided into two parts.
[0081] The cross-sectional shapes of the light receiving-emitting
unit devices 502 and 503 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively, may
adopt a form in which the light-receiving device 320 is formed on
the light-emitting material layer 200 or in which the
light-emitting device 221 is formed on the light-receiving material
layer 300 as described with reference to the cross-sectional views
of FIG. 3a or 3b or 4a or 4b.
[0082] The shapes illustrated for the light receiving-emitting unit
devices 502 and 503 intend to describe that the area of the
light-receiving region and the area of the light-emitting region
may be configured freely depending on a need or convenience in the
light sensing systems according to exemplary embodiments, and are
not limited to the illustrated shapes.
[0083] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a
light sensing system according to another exemplary embodiment.
[0084] A light sensing system 1001 may include a plurality of
light-emitting devices 224 and a plurality of light-receiving
devices 324 which are integrally formed on the substrate 100. The
plurality of light-emitting devices 224 and the plurality of
light-receiving devices 324 may have circular cross-sectional
shapes. The cross-section of each light-emitting device 224 may be
smaller in size than that of each light-receiving device 324, such
that each of the plurality of light-emitting devices 224 may be
disposed in a space within an array of four of the plurality of
light-receiving devices 324, as shown. The plurality of
light-emitting devices 224 are arranged in two directions parallel
to the directions of the light-receiving devices 324 in an
alternate manner. Such arrangement may improve the efficiency of
light reception by increasing a fill factor of the light-receiving
device 324.
[0085] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing
a detailed configuration of a light receiving-emitting unit device
included in the light sensing system of FIG. 8.
[0086] A light sensing system 1002 may further include a support
structure 600 for widening a viewing angle, and a plurality of
light receiving-emitting unit devices 504 may be disposed on the
support structure 600.
[0087] Each light receiving-emitting unit device 504 may include a
light-receiving material layer 300 which is formed on the substrate
100 and includes light-receiving regions RA and a non-receiving
region NRA, and a light-emitting device 226 formed on the
non-receiving region NRA. Each light-receiving region RA is a
light-receiving device 326. The light receiving-emitting unit
device 504 used in the light sensing system 1002 according to the
current exemplary embodiment is substantially the same as the light
receiving-emitting unit device 501 described with reference to
FIGS. 4a and 4b except for the number and arrangement of
light-receiving devices 326 forming the unit structure. Materials
or structures of the light-receiving material layer 300, the
light-receiving region RA, the non-receiving region NRA, and the
light-emitting device 226 are substantially the same as described
with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b. The light-receiving material
layer 300 may include the light-receiving regions RA and the
non-receiving regions NRA. A unit structure in which two
light-receiving regions RA, i.e., two light-receiving devices 326,
are formed at both sides of a non-receiving region NRA, and the
light-emitting device 226 is formed on the non-receiving region
NRA, forms the integrated light receiving-emitting unit device
504.
[0088] The support structure 600 includes a surface on which the
plurality of light receiving-emitting unit devices 504 are
arranged. The shape of the surface may be set such that an optical
axis of each of the plurality of light receiving-emitting unit
devices 504 has a different direction depending on a position on
the surface.
[0089] For example, the support structure 600 may have a flat
bottom surface and a plurality of inclined surfaces 601, 602, and
603 having different angles with respect to the bottom surface. The
light receiving-emitting unit devices 504 disposed on the inclined
surfaces 601, 602, and 603, respectively, emit light in different
directions according to the angles of the inclined surfaces 601,
602, and 603, such that the viewing angle of the light sensing
system 1002 may be widened. That is, the light sensing system 1002
may emit the light L1 to provide a wide viewing angle and receive
the light L2 incident at the wide viewing angle.
[0090] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a modified light
receiving-emitting unit device 505 whcih may be provided in the
light sensing system 1002 of FIG. 8.
[0091] The light receiving-emitting unit device 505 may include a
light-emitting material layer 200 which is formed on the substrate
100 and includes a light-emitting region EA and non-emitting
regions NEA, and light-receiving devices 325 formed on the
non-emitting regions NEA. The light-emitting region EA is a
light-emitting device 225.
[0092] The light receiving-emitting unit device 505 is
substantially the same as the light receiving-emitting unit device
500 described with reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b except for the
number and arrangement of light-receiving devices 325 forming the
unit structure. Materials or structures of the light-emitting
material layer 200, the light-emitting region EA, the non-emitting
regions NEA, and the light-receiving devices 325 are substantially
the same as described with reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b. The
light-emitting material layer 200 has the light-emitting region EA
and the non-emitting regions NEA. As stated above, a unit structure
in which the non-emitting regions NEA are formed at both sides of
the light-emitting region EA, that is, the light-emitting device
225 and the light-receiving devices 325 are formed on the two
non-emitting regions NEA forms the integrated light
receiving-emitting unit device 505. The light receiving-emitting
unit device 505 may be formed on the support structure 600
described with reference to FIG. 8, and may implement a wide
viewing angle.
[0093] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment.
[0094] A light sensing system 1004 may include a support structure
610 for widening a viewing angle. The support structure 610
provided in the light sensing system 1004 according to the current
exemplary embodiment may have a curved surface 610a on which the
light receiving-emitting unit devices 504 are disposed. The support
structure 610 may have a shape in which a flat plate is bent as
shown in FIG. 11. As the surface 610a has a curved shape, the
direction of the light L1 emitted from the light receiving-emitting
unit device 504 disposed on the surface 610a varies with a position
of the light receiving-emitting unit device 504, thus emitting the
light L1 at a wide viewing angle. Likewise, the light L2 incident
at the wide viewing angle may be received. The curved shape of the
support surface 610 may be formed to form a desired viewing angle
by adjusting a degree to which the flat plate is bent.
[0095] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment.
[0096] A light sensing system 1005 may include a plurality of light
receiving-emitting unit devices 504 arranged repeatedly, on each of
which a lens structure 700 for adjusting an emitting angle is
further formed. Each light receiving-emitting unit device 504 will
be described as having, but not limited to, the shape illustrated
in FIG. 9. The lens structure 700 may be formed on the
light-emitting device 226 of the light receiving-emitting unit
device 504. The lens structure 700 may be formed of a transparent
material having a refractive index and the shape of a lens surface,
and may adjust the emitting angle of light emitted from the light
receiving-emitting unit device 504 in a desired form.
[0097] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment.
[0098] A light sensing system 1006 according to the current
exemplary embodiment is different from the light sensing system
1005 of FIG. 12 in that a lens structure 710 adjusts not only the
emitting angle of light emitted from the light receiving-emitting
unit device 504, but also the incident angle of light incident onto
the light receiving-emitting unit devices 504. The lens structure
710 may have a form for covering one light receiving-emitting unit
device 504 as a whole, that is, both the light-emitting device 226
and the two light-receiving devices 326.
[0099] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment.
[0100] A light sensing system 1007 according to the current
exemplary embodiment is different from the light sensing system
1006 of FIG. 13 in terms of the shape of a lens structure 720. The
lens structure 720 has a form capable of adjusting the emitting
angle of light from the light-emitting device 226 and the incident
angle of light to the light-receiving device 326.
[0101] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment.
[0102] A light sensing system 1008 according to the current
exemplary embodiment is different from the light sensing system
1007 of FIG. 14 in that a lens structure has a shape for adjusting
an emitting angle and an incident angle in different directions
depending on a relative position of each of the plurality of light
receiving-emitting unit devices 504.
[0103] With respect to a lens structure 731 formed on the light
receiving-emitting unit device 504 relatively located in a central
portion, shapes of lens structures 732 and 733 are determined such
that a direction for adjusting an emitting angle and an incident
angle is gradually inclined from the center portion to an edge
portion. Thus, a wider viewing angle may be implemented.
[0104] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic
configuration of a light sensing system according to another
exemplary embodiment.
[0105] A light sensing system 1009 according to the current
exemplary embodiment is different from the foregoing embodiments in
that a lens structure 740 is formed on a bottom surface of the
substrate 100.
[0106] Although the lens structures 740 on the bottom surface of
the substrate 100 are illustrated as having identical shapes, the
present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, a
lens surface shape may be changed into a shape inclined in a
direction with respect to a central axis as described with
reference to FIG. 14, or the central axis of the lens surface shape
may be gradually inclined from the central portion to the edge
portion as described with reference to FIG. 15.
[0107] Although the light receiving-emitting unit device 504 shown
in FIGS. 12 through 16 is illustrated as having the shape described
with reference to FIG. 9, the present disclosure is not limited to
this example, and the light receiving-emitting unit device 504 may
be changed to the shape of the light receiving-emitting unit device
504 described with reference to FIG. 9 or to other similar
shapes.
[0108] The light-emitting devices provided in the light sensing
systems according to the foregoing exemplary embodiments may
include a plurality of light-emitting devices for emitting light
having different wavelengths. For example, a multi-wavelength light
sensing system may be implemented, which includes a first
light-emitting device for emitting light having a first wavelength
band and a second light-emitting device for emitting light having a
second wavelength band, the second wavelength band being different
from the first wavelength band. The light having different
wavelength bands may be formed by adjusting a composition ratio of
semiconductor materials of a light-emitting material layer. To form
light having different wavelengths, each light receiving-emitting
unit device may be configured with a plurality of types and such
light receiving-emitting unit devices may be repeatedly arranged in
an alternate manner.
[0109] The light sensing systems according to the foregoing
embodiments may be employed in any of various optical devices and
electronic devices.
[0110] FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration
of a LiDAR device according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0111] A LiDAR device 5000 may include a light sensing system 5100
and a processor 5310 that controls the light sensing system 5100
and analyzes light received from the light sensing system 5100.
[0112] The light sensing system 5100 may be any one of the light
sensing systems 1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007,
1008, and 1009 according to the above-described exemplary
embodiments, a combination thereof, or a modified form thereof. A
light receiving-emitting unit device included in the light sensing
system 5100 may also be any one of the above-described light
receiving-emitting unit devices 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, and 505, a
combination thereof, or a modified form thereof.
[0113] The light sensing system 5100 is a light sensing system in
which a light source is integrated, and includes a plurality of
light-emitting devices for irradiating light toward an object OBJ
and a plurality of light-receiving devices for receiving reflected
light toward the object OBJ, in which the plurality of
light-emitting devices are arranged to have the first optical axis
OA1, the plurality of light-receiving devices are arranged to have
the second optical axis OA2, and the first optical axis OA1 and the
second optical axis OA2 are parallel to each other and may be
substantially coaxial to each other. The plurality of
light-emitting devices and the plurality of light-receiving devices
may have a monolithically integrated structure.
[0114] The light-emitting structure provided in the light sensing
system 5100 may generate and emit light to be used for analyzing a
position and a shape of the object OBJ. The light-emitting device
may generate light having a wavelength band that is suitable for
analysis of the position and the shape of the object OBJ, e.g.,
light having a wavelength in an infrared band. The light-emitting
device provided in the light sensing system 5100 may include a
plurality of light-emitting devices for generating light in
different wavelength bands. For example, the light sensing system
5100 may include the first light-emitting device for emitting light
in a first wavelength band and the second light-emitting device for
emitting light in a second wavelength band, the second wavelength
band being different from the first wavelength band. The number of
wavelength bands is not limited to this example, and light-emitting
devices for generating light having various types of wavelength
bands may be included in the light sensing system 5100.
[0115] The processor 5300 controls an overall operation of the
LiDAR device 5000, and may include a light emission controller 5310
and a light signal analyzer 5340.
[0116] The light emission controller 5310 controls light-emitting
devices of the light sensing system 5100. For example, the light
emission controller 5310 may perform power supply control, on/off
control, pulse wave (PW) or continuous wave (CW) generation
control, and so forth with respect to the light-emitting device.
The light emission controller 5310 may control the light sensing
system 5100 to cause a plurality of light-emitting devices provided
in a plurality of light sensing systems 5100 to simultaneously emit
light (a flash type). The light emission controller 5310 may
control the light sensing system 5100 such that a plurality of
light-emitting devices provided in the light sensing system 5100
emit light with a time difference therebetween. When the wavelength
band of the light sensing system 5100 is such that a plurality of
different types of light-emitting devices are used, for example,
the first light-emitting device for emitting light having the first
wavelength band and the second light-emitting device for emitting
light having the second wavelength band, the light emission
controller 5310 controls the light sensing system 5100 such that
the first light-emitting device and the second light-emitting
device emit light at different times. The light emission controller
5310 controls the light sensing system 5100 to select and drive a
light-emitting device for emitting light having a particular
wavelength band from among a plurality of wavelength bands,
depending on a desired use.
[0117] The light sensing system 5100 includes an array of
light-receiving devices for sensing light reflected from the object
OBJ, and thus receives light which is reflected from the object OBJ
after being irradiated from the light sensing system 5100. The
received light signal may be used to analyze existence, a position,
a shape, a physical property, etc., of the object OBJ.
[0118] The light signal analyzer 5340 may analyze a light signal
received by the light sensing system 5100 from the object OBJ to
analyze the existence, position, shape, physical property, etc., of
the object OBJ. The light signal analyzer 5340 may perform an
operation for, for example, time of flight measurement, and
identify a three-dimensional (3D) shape of the object OBJ based on
the calculation or perform physical property analysis using Raman
analysis. The light signal analyzer 5340 may also analyze a type,
an ingredient, a concentration, the physical property, etc., of the
object OBJ by using Raman analysis that detects wavelength shift
caused by the object OBJ.
[0119] The light signal analyzer 5340 may use any of various
operation methods. For example, when a direct time measurement is
used pulse light is irradiated to the object OBJ and the time of
arrival of the light is meausred after being reflected from the
object OBJ by using a timer, thus calculating a distance. When a
correlation is used, the pulse light is irradiated to the object
OBJ and the distance is measured from a brightness of the light
reflected from the object OBJ. When a phase delay measurement is
used light having a continuous wave, such as a sine wave, is
irradiated onto the object OBJ, and a phase difference of the light
reflected from the object OBJ is sensed, thus converting the phase
difference into the distance.
[0120] The LiDAR device 5000 may include a memory 5500 in which a
program necessary for the operation and other data is stored.
[0121] The light signal analyzer 5340 transmits an operation
result, that is, information about the shape, position, and
physical property of the object OBJ, to another unit. For example,
the information may be transmitted to an autonomous driving device
that needs information about a 3D shape, operation, and position of
the object OBJ. The information may also be transmitted to a
medical equipment using physical property information of the object
OBJ, e.g., biometric information. The other unit to which the
operation result is transmitted may be a display device or a
printer. In addition, the other unit may also be, but not limited
to, a smart phone, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant
(PDA), a laptop, a personal computer (PC), and other mobile or
non-mobile computing devices.
[0122] The LiDAR device 5000 may be used as a sensor for obtaining
3D information about a front object in real time, thus being
applicable to a self-driving device, e.g., a unmanned vehicle, a
self-driving vehicle, a robot, a drone, etc., and to a small-size
walking means (e.g., a bicycle, a motor cycle, a stroller, a board,
etc.), a person and animal assisting means (e.g., a walking stick,
a helmet, clothes, accessories, a watch, a bag, etc.), Internet of
Things (IoT) devices, building security devices, and so forth.
[0123] The above-described light sensing system has a structure in
which the light resource unit and the light-receiving unit are
integrated, thus simplifying the system.
[0124] In the above-described light sensing system, the plurality
of light-emitting devices and the plurality of light-receiving
devices are arranged such that the optical axis of the light source
unit and the optical axis of the light-receiving unit are
substantially coaxial to each other, thereby improving the
efficiency of light reception.
[0125] The above-described light sensing system may be used in any
of various optical devices and electronic devices, and may be
employed in the LiDAR system to obtain information about the
object.
[0126] While the light sensing system and the LiDAR device
including the same have been shown and described in connection with
the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary
skill in the art that modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplary
embodiments as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the
disclosed embodiments should be considered in an illustrative sense
rather than a restrictive sense. The range of the exemplary
embodiments will be in the appended claims, and all of the
differences in the equivalent range thereof should be understood to
be included in the exemplary embodiments.
[0127] It should be understood that exemplary embodiments described
herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for
purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within
each embodiment should typically be considered as available for
other similar features or aspects in other embodiments.
[0128] While one or more exemplary embodiments have been described
with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of
ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as
defined by the following claims.
* * * * *